§ 13. Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he intends to take to protect the public by diverting young people from criminal activity.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Government are developing their programmes in diverting young people from crime. The Home Office safer cities programme includes those aimed at reducing young people's involvement in criminal activity. Local activities for young people will also be an important theme of the first-ever national Crime Prevention Week, which is to be held from 15 to 20 April, and we are working with the Department of Education and Science in its consideration of measures to reduce truancy. The Government also think that some parents could do very much more to control their children's behaviour, and the emphasis on parental responsibility in the Criminal Justice Bill will encourage them to do so.